monica.lester – South Glens Falls Central Schoolshttps://www.sgfcsd.org
Tue, 18 Dec 2018 18:16:18 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8https://www.sgfcsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/cropped-favicon_large_sgf-32x32.pngmonica.lester – South Glens Falls Central Schoolshttps://www.sgfcsd.org
3232OWWMS First Marking Period Honor Rollhttps://www.sgfcsd.org/owwms-marking-period-honor-roll/
Tue, 18 Dec 2018 18:12:34 +0000https://www.sgfcsd.org/?p=38056Congratulations to the following students who were named to the Oliver W. Winch Middle School Honor Roll for the first marking period!

]]>South Glens Falls High School students participate in second annual “Day of Dialogue”https://www.sgfcsd.org/south-glens-falls-high-school-students-participate-annual-day-dialogue/
Tue, 18 Dec 2018 16:22:23 +0000https://www.sgfcsd.org/?p=38050In early December, 51 South Glens Falls High School students and 19 staff members had a chance to sit down and talk. Their conversations weren’t just the typical high school banter, either. They talked about what they love about their school, what makes them feel safe and how to make the environment better.

As part of the second annual Day of Dialogue, students and staff leaders gathered off-campus at the nearby Pine Knolls Alliance Church community space, separated into small groups and talked in about the school culture throughout the day. The discussions were guided by the ideals of Restorative Practices. These practices include talking in small groups, talking pieces that allow for focus on the speaker, and making sure everyone has a chance to speak.

“The experiences of our students are of absolute importance to us as faculty, staff and administration. The purpose of the day was for students and staff to engage with each other in meaningful conversations about their lives and the issues most important to them,” said SGFHS Principal Pete Mody. He noted that this is the second time the school has held circles this school year. The first time was a 45-minute activity in October for the whole building. “In October, we focused on working together as students and adults to create a positive school climate. The Day of Dialogue was so again well received, we are looking to hold another one in March.”

Last May, a similar Day of Dialogue was held to discuss topics surrounding school climate. The idea of using circles as a means for discussion and conversation at the high school is rooted in restorative justice practices. Restorative justice is a process by which participants are asked to consider their actions and take steps to resolve issues and to make connections and communicate openly and honestly.

By bringing students together to talk in circles, the goal is to be proactive by working on relationships and ideas for improving the school and culture.

“As high school students, the best thing we can do regarding school culture at first is try to understand it,” said SGFHS Student Government President Nicholas Brennan, who was a facilitator. “As these conversations develop, participants get a better idea of what school culture looks like and how to improve it. For participants, I feel that the most rewarding component is a feeling of acceptance. Quite often we forget that our peers face such similar problems as us, and we can feel alone in our struggles at times as a result. Circles provide that critical reminder that we really are all in this together and there is always someone to talk to when we have a problem.”

During this week’s activity, students and staff sat in circles in groups of six to eight people. South High students who have been trained as community building facilitators led the conversations. Student facilitators established ground rules for discussions and built trust among participants so they could open up and talk about their thoughts and feelings.

Some of the earlier rounds that day started with lighter topics as participants adjusted to the idea and the flow of circles in general before moving into deeper dive topics to talk about significant concerns, feelings and emotions regarding school and life. And that’s all part of the process, according to Mody, because establishing trust and sharing openly takes time.

“Simply giving our school the opportunity to talk and helping them understand how we structure these discussion builds the groundwork for future dialogue,” he said. “Having students serve as the facilitators also shows that these are conversations must focus on student voice and leadership if we want to move forward as a school.”

“To change a culture, you have to understand what drives it,” said Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction Tim Dawkins. “We want to know what students are feeling, what they think about their school and what can be better. To do this work well, it takes time. And that’s okay. We are committed to the work of improving our school by empowering students to use their voice to speak up and lead.”

Students had an opportunity to discuss safety—emotional, physical and mental safety—at school; who they feel safe with at school and why. They talked about what a good school climate looks like, and they discussed student relationships with staff and faculty as well.

Students were also able to talk about school discipline, the biggest problems for high school students, alcohol and drug use among students, popularity and how both the faculty and the student body can help make changes to the school culture.

“Altogether, circles promote communication among all levels of the building, leading to a sense of unity shared by all: the very essence of Bulldog Pride,” Brennan said.

“I think the day was helpful to overall culture because it got a chance for me to see that I am not the only one going through the everyday struggles I go through, and that there are people who will listen to me,” said SGFHS student Vanessa LeBrun. “My concerns were definitely heard and I feel everyone got an equal opportunity to voice theirs.”

What’s next? New students will be trained as facilitators beginning in December, and the entire school will participate in circles in February to further the discussion.

]]>South Glens Falls partners with Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department to hire school resource officerhttps://www.sgfcsd.org/south-glens-falls-partners-saratoga-county-sheriffs-department-hire-school-resource-officer/
Mon, 17 Dec 2018 16:27:59 +0000https://www.sgfcsd.org/?p=38040Since the start of the school year, Saratoga County Sheriff’s Deputy Mark Stewart has been working as the district’s school resource officer (SRO).

Stewart, a 2007 graduate of South Glens Falls High School, was hired by the district through a new partnership with the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department. Through the sheriff’s department, the district pays approximately $75,000 per year for an SRO.

“Having Officer Stewart in our schools is just one component of our overall safety plan,” said Superintendent of Schools Kristine Orr. ‘He not only provides extra protection for our students and staff, he is able to serve as a resource for our district safety planning and a role model for students.”

Officer Stewart’s job in the district includes:

maintaining a presence throughout all the school buildings and proactively working to enhance the quality of life of members of the school community by eliminating safety threats and disorder;

responding immediately to ensure safety in times of crisis or conflicts and providing follow-up to proactively prevent future problems;

communicating and collaborating with other law enforcement colleagues to identify and preemptively address potential issues;

serving as a resource to the school community, including staff, students and their families for collaborative problem solving and the encouragement of information-sharing to increase safety and security in the school and community; and

making presentations to students, faculty and staff, officials, parents and the community on violence prevention, substance abuse, social conflict, crime prevention, health and safety, conflict resolution, school safety and other related community policing issues.

“My favorite part of the job is the positive daily interactions that I have with the students and knowing I am able to make a difference,” Stewart said. “I look at my position not as a job but as a lifestyle and there is no better feeling then being a part of the ‘Bulldog Family.'”

SGFCSD SRO Mark Stewart with Moreau Elementary School students in the cafeteria.

SGFCSD School Resource Office Mark Stewart is being featured in the monthly SGF Bulldog Staff Spotlight. In this monthly feature, employees from around the district are highlighted. Since the start of the school year, Saratoga County Sheriff’s Deputy Mark Stewart has been working as the district’s school resource officer (SRO).

Stewart, a 2007 graduate of South Glens Falls High School, was hired by the district through a new partnership with the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department.

Name: Mark Stewart

Position in the district and building where you work: South Glens Falls School Resource Officer

How long have you worked in the district? Since the beginning of the 2018-19 school year.

What is your favorite aspect of your job?
My favorite part of my job is the positive daily interactions that I have with the students throughout the entire district. Being able to leave at the end of the day, knowing and feeling that I was able to make a difference for the students in the district at all levels. I look at my position not as a job but as a lifestyle, and there is no better feeling then being apart of the “Bulldog” Family.

What do you like to do outside of school?
Outside of school I enjoy spending time and traveling with my family. I also enjoy playing hockey and golf.

]]>South Glens Falls CSD and Fort Edward Union Free SD to conduct pre-merger studyhttps://www.sgfcsd.org/sgfcsd-feufsd-conduct-pre-merger-study/
Wed, 05 Dec 2018 15:31:38 +0000https://www.sgfcsd.org/?p=37970The South Glens Falls Central School District and the Fort Edward Union Free School District boards of education have agreed to conduct a pre-merger study to examine the benefits and drawbacks of the two districts merging.

Specifically, the study will examine whether the South Glens Falls Central School District should annex the Fort Edward Union Free School District. In an annexation, a new district is not created, rather; the annexed district (Fort Edward) is dissolved and becomes part of the annexing district (South Glens Falls).

“Given the financial constraints of the Fort Edward Union Free School District, we must begin to examine options for our district’s future,” said Fort Edward UFSD Superintendent Daniel Ward. “We’re committed to making the best choices for our students and our community, and looking at all of our options. The long-term, big picture decisions that the Fort Edward Board of Education is responsible for making requires that the district collect and review the information that will be provided by this study.”

Fort Edward lost a significant amount of taxable property value when the assessment of General Electric Co. dewatering plant was reduced by more than $60,000,000, which was equal to a $1.2 million dollar loss in revenue for the district. This loss has forced the district, which sits to the southeast of South Glens Falls, to cut staff while continuing to raise taxes for district residents. Fort Edward UFSD has approximately 500 students in kindergarten through grade 12.

The pre-merger study, which will be conducted by the educational consultant Castallo & Silky, LLC, will address the following areas: enrollment projections, instructional and extracurricular programming, finance, facilities, transportation and staffing.

“We are willing to be a part of Fort Edward’s efforts to continue to provide excellent academic programming and support for its students,” said South Glens Falls Superintendent Kristine Orr. “We are open to learning how our districts could both benefit, and how a merger would impact our own students, our potential revenue and our taxpayers.”

The study, which costs $5,500 for each school district, will be conducted throughout the winter. Results are expected to be released to the public in June. Each district will receive aid to offset more than half the cost of the study. (Fort Edward will receive 71 percent aid while South Glens Falls will receive 62 percent aid.)

Metivier’s application proposed expanding Tanglewood Elementary School’s “Kindness Closet” so it can become a resource for all six schools in the South Glens Falls Central School District. The money will be used to help build a freestanding structure for supplies and enable the district to offer household items to families who need them across all the schools.

The Kindness Closet is a project Metivier started to address the drastically changing socio-economic dynamics at Tanglewood. Not only does the school have families living in poverty, but also middle-class families suffering from layoffs and downsizing that puts financial burdens on the students and their families. The Kindness Closet is intended to help families with basic household items—but the needs go well beyond Metvier’s current resources.

“I was shocked, I was surprised, and I am so thankful,” said Metivier, who moments earlier had talked to students about the Kindness Closet during a school assembly and reiterated that the school can help them if they need it. She was surprised by representatives from Farmers Insurance and her family after she talked about the closet.

“The Kindness Closet is a perfect example of the lessons we are trying to teach our children on a regular basis,” said Superintendent of Schools Kristine Orr. “We’re so thrilled that Jamie’s vision to expand the Kindness Closet is a reality. Her dream will make the lives of thousands of people in our community better.”

“This is such a huge win for the entire area,” said Justin Rickson of Farmers Insurance. “It is truly inspiring how a small upstate New York community could pull together to support Jamie and this great cause, and I hope this will help bring even more awareness to what Jamie does and the Kindness Closet.”

Votes poured in nationwide in October and November for the top 15 finalists and Metivier’s proposal was one of the five to receive the most votes. Metivier is the second teacher to be surprised with her $100,000 grant following the end of public voting on Nov. 3.

“I am incredibly proud of Jamie and her work to help others. She is an example for all of our students and staff,” said Tanglewood Elementary School Principal Matt Conrick. “And that’s what the Kindness Closet is all about—helping others.”

]]>Senior Allison Hillebrandt selected for All-State Ensembleshttps://www.sgfcsd.org/senior-allison-hillebrandt-selected-all-state-ensembles/
Tue, 27 Nov 2018 19:34:08 +0000https://www.sgfcsd.org/?p=37850South Glens Falls High School senior Allison Hillebrandt has been selected as an Alto II to the 2018 Treble Chorus and will participate in concerts held at the acclaimed Eastman Theatre in Rochester during the annual Winter Conference of the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA). The event will be held from Nov. 29-Dec. 2.

In addition to her work with South Glens Falls Central School District teachers Mark Frederick and Betsy Stambach-Fuller, Allison has studied privately with Meredith Reed at the Glens Falls Music Academy. She has been an active member of several South High music ensembles including Choraliers, Orchestra, Chamber Strings and the internationally acclaimed curricular contemporary a cappella group Vocal Point.

Allison has also participated in several SWCMEA All County and NYSSMA Zone 7 Area All-State music festivals and has been a member of the Empire State Youth Chorale Melodies of Christmas, NYSSA School of the Choral Arts, 50 Miles to Nowhere and various theatre troupes throughout the region.

Nearly 100 employees, community members and students packed the expansive maintenance bays while South Glens Falls Board of Education President Bill Elder and Superintendent of Schools Kristine Orr welcomed the community and shared their excitement.

“When we talk about exciting days in our school district, this one ranks right up there!” said Orr, who explained that work on making the new facility a reality began in 2015 with a community advisory committee. “It takes hard work to create something like this.”

The current transportation facility was built in 1947 during a time when the district had a fleet of six buses, and student enrollment was about one-third of what it is today. The new Department of Transportation-compliant facility that would combine services for both the transportation and operations and maintenance departments.

The new facility includes four state-of-the-art bus lifts, which address safety concerns for district personnel, who have been using in-ground pits to repair our buses. The building also includes a training room and adequate locker rooms and restrooms for the 100-plus members of the two departments, as well as a bus wash so that vehicles can be properly cleaned and maintained.

The building is the result of a $57.8 million capital project that was approved by the community in 2015. The goals of the project are to advance and improve instructional programming; improve health, safety, handicapped-accessibility compliance and security measures; achieve energy efficiencies and other cost-saving measures; and protect the community’s long-term investment in its school facilities.

The original transportation facility next to the middle school will be maintained for storage.

]]>Moreau Elementary School focuses on kindnesshttps://www.sgfcsd.org/moreau-elementary-school-focuses-kindness/
Mon, 05 Nov 2018 18:20:43 +0000https://www.sgfcsd.org/?p=37793Moreau Elementary School students are focusing on kindness this year as part of the theme of the year, “Kindness Begins with Me.” Each day, students and staff are discussing ways to be kind both in school and outside of school.

However, Mrs. Pisani and Mrs. Reinemann’s fourth-grade class has taken its job of spreading kindness to a whole new level! How are they making Moreau, and in turn the community, a better place?

Each morning, a fourth-grade student greets the children as they come in with a high five and a good morning.

At the end of the day, two students stand holding the doors and wish everyone a good day.

Fourth-grade students have been practicing reading books on kindness and then going into other classrooms and read to younger students.

They are working on a kindness handbook to share with each classroom that outlines steps to take to be kind.

They created a kindness challenge board that showcases a new way to be kind each week.

They leave notes of encouragement for classes in the cafeteria.

“Seeing our fourth-grade students take this work to heart and implement positive change in the building is fantastic,” said Moreau Elementary School Principal Rebecca Toleman. “All of these ideas were thought up by students and is being implemented by the kids. I’m incredibly proud of the ways they are inspiring other students and staff in the building.”